Health and Fitness Tips

We are used to throwing away everything, but for some reason we want to keep our baby’s items forever. Even so, when you’re expecting, lots of people will ask you if you’d like to have their children’s outgrown furniture and crib bedding. Babies can be a big financial drain to a family, thankfully offerings of cribs and bedding can help keep those costs in check, and always remember to thank the giver. First verify whether the bedding is safe. Then you may use it for the child.

Your baby’s first bed is very important whether it is Moses basket or a crib. Hand-me-down beds need to be checked for safety issues first, then take some time to refinish them to make them special for your little one. Look closely at the baby bedding and crib that you have received to make sure that they are safe, even if the appear to be new. An old wicker cradle can be beautiful to look at but check for safety as there may be loose or broken bits of wood, and some joints can become loose or weakened from age; we also would recommend that you replace the mattress with a new one. Babies like to put things in their mouth, so be sure that no loose ends or pieces of material are left over when fitting the skirt.

The drapes should be fixed properly. Loose materials might be caught by the child to put inside the mouth. The Juvenile Product Manufacturer’s Association (JPMA) in the USA and British Standards(BS) in the UK concerned about the safety of baby furnitures, warn that new furnitures and bedding should be bought for the crib if possible. If a product has a JPMA seal of approval or a BS ‘kite’ mark then you know that they have been tested and will meet all the necessary safety requirements.

I have no problem with second-hand baby things as long as you make sure that they are perfectly safe – it isn’t environmentally sound to throw away good furniture and baby bedding. Your baby will spend many hours in his crib, so it is important to carefully examine and test it for safety. Here are some tips to bear in mind when assessing the safety of the equipment you have for your baby. First off, always make sure to check for spots where a child’s clothes might get caught and any chipped, loose, or toxic lead paint. Always make sure the bars of the crib are closer than 2 and 3/8 inches apart and the head and foot board of the crib should be solid with no holes, to prevent baby’s head from getting caught between them. To prevent the crib from wobbling, I would check all connections, screws and make sure that all the pieces are in place. Then go around the crib and double check again. You should be certain that the raising and lowering mechanism for the side rail can be operated with just one hand, and that it stays securely in place when in the raised position. Last, the mattress should be clean and not too soft, and be sure that the side rail is no lower than 22 inches above the crib mattress.

A new mattress that would fit in the crib is always better. Nursery bedding can present a risk of suffocation, so tie bumper strings tightly and ensure that the baby can’t pull down the bumper, or simply remove the bumper. Don’t use comforters, quilts or other heavy bedding for babies that are under a year old since this can cause overheating. Keep a thermometer in the room, and try a mixture of blankets and sheets. The crib should not be next to lamps or window blinds, etc Babies grow quick and try to climb.

Always remember to enjoy every moment with your baby, they grow up before you even realize it.

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